Healthcare debate far from over, media predict

“Gone is the promise […] of a ‘postpartisan’ Washington,” read the New York Times, a day after Democrats passed legislation that promises to remake healthcare in the world’s richest country. “Never in modern memory has a major piece of legislation passed without a single Republican vote,” the paper regretted.

"Something no other president had accomplished" F24's Guillaume Meyer

While the media seized on the historic significance of the bill's passage, the only uniform opinion across the news spectrum was that healthcare debate in the US is far from over. Democrats could savour their victory, but only for the shortest interval.

The San Francisco Chronicle took aim at the bad faith it says Republicans exhibited in their campaign to kill the bill, lamenting “the lack of bipartisan involvement” but also “the level of disingenuousness in the debate, from the phony claims that it would create ‘death panels’ to the gross misrepresentation that Obama's plan amounted to a government takeover of healthcare.”

Political suicide?

"Democrats' death by suicide,” titled the Washington Times, not missing the opportunity to add medical jargon to their view that Democrats will have sacrificed control of the US Congress in their single-minded bend to pass an unpopular bill.

“The malformed health legislation is not the only reason Democrats are facing political extinction in November, but it is one of the most dramatic,” The Washington Times declared, insisting that Democrats would pay a political price in mid-term elections for ignoring their constituents' concern about greater government control of their health.

The Los Angeles Times hailed “A historic first step,” and a landmark accomplishment of the Obama administration, but also speculated on the electoral fate of Democrats. “The controversy surrounding [the healthcare bill] threatens to end his party's majority in Congress. Rarely has such a good thing for Americans been perceived by so many as a threat to their livelihood and liberty,” the LA Times wrote.

'Making it work'

Editorials in major newspapers echoed the standoff between the two major parties in Congress and gave a taste of the challenge ahead for jubilant Democrats.

The Wall Street Journal issued its word of warning to those uninsured citizens inclined to hope their circumstance will improve with the bill’s passing. “So this hour of liberal political victory is a good time to adapt the ‘Pottery Barn’ rule […]: You break it, you own it,” soured the conservative daily, predicting the eventual doom of the healthcare system, the government of the United States, or both.

While the San Francisco Chronicle simply conceded that “the challenge to make this plan work could be every bit as daunting as getting it passed,” Slate rallied Obama supporters for the battle ahead:

“We have seen a president who evidently has learned how to lead, who relishes winning, and who is primed to become a more effective progressive. For that we should be grateful. It should whet his appetite as a fighter -- and ours.”

US Congress passes historic healthcare bill With a narrow and hard-fought 219-212 vote late Sunday, the US House of Representatives gave final approval to a sweeping healthcare overhaul, extending insurance coverage to nearly 32 million Americans. After running on a ticket of change, President Barack Obama now has a political triumph after a challenging first 16 months in office. Nancy Pelosi, Democratic House Speaker and the most senior Democrat in the House, was a key proponent of the healthcare reform. Defeated Pro Life Republican congressman Christopher Smith speaks during a news conference on healthcare reform on Capitol Hill Monday. Supporters celebrate the passing of the healthcare reform bill outside the Capitol after the final vote on Sunday in Washington, DC. Members of the vocal conservative Tea Party movement hold a sign outside the US Capitol as they demonstrate in Washington against the healthcare bill. A demonstrator stands in front of the House side of the US Capitol Sunday. The healthcare reform battle has polarised Americans more than when President Obama took office in January 2009.